Staff Photo by Cindy HepnerThis sign on Route 49 in Hopewell warning of a curve isn't going to help passing motorists.HOPEWELL TWP. — As local officials seek more permanent warning signs near a notorious curve in Route 49, it appeared on Thursday they’d already lost one.

A large illuminated sign warning of the curve ahead, in an area near the intersection with Cohansey Drive, was missing from the east side of the curve.

Another such sign was still in place on the west side but had been turned so that it was parallel with the road and was not visible to drivers heading east.

Those and other warning and speed advisory signs were placed in the area by the state Department of Transportation (DOT) soon after an early July accident there that claimed the life of township public works supervisor Kennard Hildreth.

Residents and officials have said the curve is dangerous and have recounted a number of nasty accidents there over the years.

DOT spokeswoman Fran McCrory on Thursday afternoon said her agency would replace the missing sign.Township Business Administrator Will Daddario said he was unaware that the sign had been turned.

He said recent strong winds may have blown it into that position, and that he would address it.At its Sept. 9 meeting the Township Committee resolved to send a letter to the DOT requesting that certain temporary warnings posted in the area be made permanent, in particular flashing or illuminated signs.

On Thursday, Daddario said the DOT had sent a response saying the requested signs are not approved, but that an official would visit to assess the site and make recommendations on what types of approved signs or signals should be placed.

A Bridgeton resident said he'd been in the area late last week, possibly Friday, in the afternoon, and saw the sign - the one that ended up turned parallel to the road - in the parking lot of the nearby Stow Creek Deli and Food Mart.

He said he originally believed two pickup trucks with the sign that day were state vehicles, but he was unsure as of Thursday. He said they had insignias on the doors but it wasn't clear from what agency the trucks may have been.

The next day, the Bridgeton man said, he saw the sign in its position parallel to the road. He said he did not see the workers in the Deli parking lot actually move the sign to that position.